The Rhode Island State Senate passed a bill that requires child-resistant packaging for electronic cigarettes, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said.

Kilmartin pushed for the legislation, which also prohibits the use of e-cigarettes on school property. The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, and a companion bill is sponsored by Rep. Helio Melo, which is pending in the state House of Representatives.

The bill expands current state law on “electronic nicotine-delivery systems” by adding the child resistant requirement. Child-resistant packaging is defined by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, and means the packaging must be “significantly difficult for children under 5 years of age to open.”

"The popularity and use of e-cigarettes and vaping products continues to rise," Kilmartin said. "While the jury is still out on the health effects of e-cigarettes versus the known health traditional nicotine products, we can all agree that these products should be kept out of the hands of children. Most troubling is that these products–especially e-liquids–come in a variety of enticing flavors, such as candy crush and gummy bear, which appeal to children. There is currently no such regulation on this toxic product with respect to child-resistant packaging."